Valve control mechanism



Sept 8, 1953 T. LUSIGNAN, JR f 2,651,325

VALVE CONTROL MEcHANIsM iled Aug. 14, 1947 FG 44 42 4 @mmj Patented Sept. 8, 1953 .I'oseph T. Lusignan, Jr.,

to. The O hio Brass Co corporation of N ew J erser Mansfield, Ohio, assigner mpany, Mansfield, Ohio, aA

Application August 14, 1947-,l Serial No1 tfl 6 Claims.. (Cl. 1,3;'Z1-..6,5;3),

l This invention relates to val-ves of the reciprof eating piston type wh1ch may be operated to. the

closed positions by line. pressure, Valves of this type may be installed with the piston operating horizontally or vertically.l

It is found in this typel of valve that under some conditionsV the piston effect the movement of the piston.

It is the purpose of the herein disclosed invention to provide means to prevent such inadvertent movement of the piston.

@ther objects and advantages will the following description.

The invention and modifications are exemplied bythe combination and arrangement of parts show-n in the accompanying drawing and de.- scribedj in the following specification, and more particularly pointed out. in the appended claims.

In the d-rawingz`` Fig. l is a longitudinal Viewrl in partial section of the type of valve herein described with the operating system shown schematically.

Fig- 2 represents a fitting to be applied to the operating system of= Fig. 1 as later explained.

Fig. 3l is a longitudinal view in of the fitting represented in Fig.

appear from Fig. 4 is a ther valve shown in Fig. 1 including means for or the improvement shown in Fig. 4.

Figs.. 7 and 8 are partial sections of the lower end. f the valve shown in Eis. 1 showing still further modiiatons Qi this inventi011 Fia 91s. e Section en the line 9.-@ Qf Fia 7u.

Figg. l shows the type oi valve which the herein diselosed invention includes; the body 0r Casingl. a cylindrical. portion, vor Cylinder 2 which in tum a cylindrical. bore 2 with an inlet per# 3 and; outlet, port 4 and the @nds Qi the, bore are Closed by heads and le Withinl the bore 2' is a piston 1 with an openopen position.

To. seal oir the ports 3 and llr W-hen the valve is closed gaskets 9 areinserted in grooves in the piston face-and surround. the porty openings and engage the face ofk the bore when the valve is closed (Fig. 1).

The piston is recessed as shown above and below the side walls of later referred The upper end with an e The. cylinderl 2 is provided at its ends with annular recesses I3 and I4 respectively since the uid pressure isv shown as entering the cylinder at the side thereof andnot through the cylinder heads.

The piston is provided with rings i5 or other packing means at its ends.

To. control the normal operation of the valve by pipes 24 and 25.

In the pipes 2l and 22 are located check valves 2B and 21 which prevent an interflow of fluid pressure between the ports.

To further control the operating system, hand operated valves 28 and 29 are included in pipes 2i and 22.

piston and out the pipe 39 as the normal pressure on the system may be as much as 1000 p. s. i.

When the valve A as shown in Fig. 1 is conline under fluid pressure and the valve 29 set to apply iluid pressure to both ends of the piston and with the valve 28 open, the pressure within the cylinder will be the same under normal conditions and the piston 1 will remain in its closed position and likewise if piston 1 is in its open position and either valve 28 or 29 is open the pressure will be equal in both ends of the cylinder under normal conditions.

A self-contained valve incorporating the various features of the several valves in Fig. 1 is disclosed in U. S. Patent 2,337,841.

However, normal operating conditions of the pipe line are at times suddenly changed through pressure surges and if of sufciently high rate and duration and the piston friction in the cylinder is suciently small the piston may abruptly move from its intended position and fully or partially open or close the valve A.

The reason for this is, the volume Y (space ill-H2) in Fig. 1 is very much greater than the volume of space il with the result that the sudden rise in pressure increases the pressure in the space Il much faster than it increases the pressure in the space Y, thus moving the piston.

The pressure diierence across the piston so created may be sufficiently high and of suiie cient duration to move the piston from its position shown in Fig. 1 namely, toward its open position. The amount of movement depends upon the last two factors, the movement obviously increasing the space i l and decreasing the space Y thereby tending to reduce the pressure difference at the ends of the piston until a balance has been reached.

This inadvertent movement of the piston is considered particularly undesirable if it tends to open the valve A from a closed position.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide means to prevent the movement of the piston 1 under sudden increase in line pressure due to surge pressures.

Prevention of this inadvertent movement of the piston may be accomplished by placing restricting means in the pipe 23 as indicated schematically at 35 in Fig. 2 and one form of such restrictor is shown in detail in Fig. 3.

This restrictor comprises a casing 35 with chambers 31, 38 and 39, and threaded ends for inserting in series with the pipe 23 in Fig. l. In chamber 38 is a piston 40 with packing 4I, and separated from chamber 39 by a wall 42 which may be separately formed and screwed into place.

The chamber 39 is provided with a bellows 43 which has a sealed connection with the wall 42 as by soldering and a spring 44 tends to normally hold the bellows in a collapsed condition. The chamber 38 and bellows 43 are normally filled with a hydraulic fluid. A small openingl 45 in the wall 42 permits the interflow of the hydraulic fluid as the piston 40 is moved and the bellows 43 alternately expanded and contracted with the movement of the piston 40.

' When the valve A is connected in a pipe line and closed as in Fig. 1 and the restrictor 35 interposed in the pipe 23 as in Fig. 2 as previously described and the valve set as shown, there will be equal line pressure on both ends of the piston 1, and the pressure will be the same on both ends of the piston 40 and the spring 44 will hold the piston 4I! as in Fig. 3 and no flow of fluid line pressure will take place through the Valve 20- Ii now there should be .a sudden increase of line pressure due to a surge its eiect will be extended to the operating system of valve A and the increase in pressure over the normal line pressure will be suddenly impressed upon the piston 40 and move the same to its open position but such movement will be retarded by the slow flow of the hydraulic uid in the chamber 38 through the restricted opening and into the bellows 43 against the pressure or" spring 44.

If the said pressure difference due to the surge is suiciently high and sustained for a sufficient time the piston 40 will gradually force the hydraulic iiuid in the chamber 38 into the bellows against the pressure of the spring 44 and the opening 46 into the chamber 31 uncovered wholly or in part.

Due to a small by-pass 41 through the piston 40, which is optional, the pressure at the ends of the piston 1 will gradually increase as the result of the surge but not sufliciently to effect movement of the piston 1 and as the surge pressure continues and if suciently great to overcome the spring 44, the surge pressure will enter the pipes 24 and 25 through the gradual uncoveringA of the opening 46, but with proper proportionng of the restrictcr iparts the sudden impact of the surge pressure on the piston at that end of the cylinder with the smaller space (Il in Fig. 1) will be greatly diminished if not entirely eliminated.

The restrictor 35 will not aiect the normal operation ci the operating system of the valve A as for instance if it is desired to move the piston 1 to the open position, the valve 20 will be operated clockwise whichwill connect pipe 25 directly with pipe 2i or 22, depending upon which valve 23 or 29 is open and from which port 3 or 4 pressure is to be taken and connect pipe 24 to atmosphere through pipe 30 thus releasingI pressure on the one end of the piston 1 and starting the piston 1 to move and greatly reducing the back pressure on the piston 49 thereby permit-- I ting the line pressure to open the restrictor.

If the cylinder 2 is entirely empty of fluid pressure, then when the valve 20 is manipulated to permit the ow of fluid pressure to either end of the cylinder 2 and the other end to connect to atmosphere, the restrictor will very quickly open under line pressure and close again under pres` sure of spring 44 when the line pressure is reached in the one end of the cylinder or when the line pressure is allowed to equalize in both ends as in Fig. 1.

Another approach to the problem of preventing accidental movement of the piston 1 under surge pressures while the piston is subject to line pressure at both ends is to incorporate restricting means into the construction of valve A at either or both ends of the valve. In Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive such means is disclosed at that end of the valve occupied by the piston when valve A is closed and valve 20 open to both ends of the piston, as in Fig. 1; the restricting means checks the flow or' fluid pressure into the space Il of the piston while the flow is unrestricted into the space Y until the increase in pressure upon the upper end of the piston 1 asa result of the surge has become sufciently equalized with that of the lower end of the valve to prevent inadvertent movement of the piston 1.

The eiect of a surge upon the piston to move the same from its desired position will take place only when the valve is in its open or closed posi-n aoereli surgeY isgradually it will be building Y the other end may be very# little or of the piston 'l clue tosurge is partially Wall. The fu-llelect of any surge pressure is not present untill the inlet of pipe Z5 is fullyv uncovered as the piston rises.

Fig. 6 is a modil'oation of Eig. 4 in that an inner sleeve 5f is providedwhichthe inner side wall of the space- H'. 'This reduces the exposed area of the end face of the piston thus still further reducing the chance of the surge pressure moving the piston. The piston is shown the sleeve 5|- space Il above the sleeve 5l and thereby lact upon the entire lower end of the piston 1.

This sleeve 5l will not retard' the operation of the lower exposed face oir' the it to move promptly untill the slots lill1 are uncovered with respect to the sleeve 51.

Normal operation of the piston in Figs. 4J 5A and 6 will' not be laffected by the retardingrv means disclosed` for the reason that tfe other end of the cylinder will be exhausting to atmosphere while full line pressure is acting upon the lower or retarded end.

Fig. 7 is a still further modication of a means to retard the effect of the surge pressure or to entirely prevent anyI movement of the piston deas previously referred to.

Thepiston is provided with an 52 which is operation of the piston.

Fig. 8 is a form of this invention in which a spring-held check is incorporated in the operating system. The piston 'F shown in a partially closed position.

In Fig. 8 the cylinder headv 6, is provided with a recess 5d plug is a partial closure for the end opening of the pipe 25.

The side wall of the and whereupon pressure willenter the the surge and its constructions shown in Figs. 4 to.

6 The check 55. and stem 58' are' biased to. yield-v rnely hold the check: 5,5 in the recess 54a by a spring 6l and? the stem` and its: head are; arranged toreciprocatein thebores- 5B and 5.1!.

When the valve A is closed and the piston is in its normal When the piston 1: (fllig. iii)I desired tn move closed position,

piston to its; ope-n position.

By closing the upper end (Fig. 1)A ofthe piston the. same as at. the lower end the value of Y will be greatly reduced from that shown in Fig'. 1 thus permitting quicker equalization or the surge prese sure.` at. the ends oi* the piston in the ease ofthe 8 inclusive.

Preliminary testsv should be made as to the line charaeteristicg` to harmonize the valve ope eration to. moet the requirements.

The pipes 2li and 213' may connect directly to the connected pipe line adjacent the valve A.

Fluid pressure refers to the pressure of' the medium carried by the pipe line such as. gas, oil, water, etc.

desired to be secured by United States. Letters Patent is, :l

l. .Fluid pressure control apparatus, for use with a pilielrle Valve, et the. type, described compris-4 ing' av havingr inlet surges to open one of said' ports.

2. Fluid. pressure control apparatus for use. with. a pipe line valve ofthe type described com piston substantially Huid-tightly mounted in said rst chamber for reciprocating motion to open and close the outlet port, a passageway through the piston to connect the ports for restricted iiuid flow therebetween when the piston stands between said ports, a bellows in the second chamber having an open end sealingly secured to said end wall around one end of the passageway, and spring means associated with the bellows to resiliently oppose expansion of said bellows and motion of the piston under live fluid pressure surges to open one of said ports.

3.A valve comprising a body having an inlet port, an outlet port and a piston bore between said ports, a hollow, open-ended piston movable endwise in said bore and having a passage therethrough to connect said ports partly deiined by longitudinally spaced transverse walls in the piston and openings in opposed walls of the piston between said transverse walls, one of said Walls being adjacent to one end of the piston and the other wall being remote from the other end of the piston, said walls partly defining chambers in the ends of said bore, the chamber partly defined by the latter wall being larger than the other chamber in all positions of the piston in the bore, a rst conduit connecting said ports outside of said body, a second conduit connecting the ends of said bore, a valve connecting the iirst conduit with the second conduit, and restriction means associated with the second conduit for retarding the entrance of fluid pressure into the smaller chamber" during fluid pressure surges in said rst conduit.

4. A valve comprising a body having an inlet port, an outlet port and a piston bore between said ports, a hollow, open-ended piston movable endwise in said bore and having a passage therethrough to connect said ports partly denned by longitudinally spaced transverse walls in the piston and openings in opposed walls of the piston between said transverse walls, one of said walls being adjacent to one end of the piston and the other wall being remote from the other end of the piston, said walls partly defining chambers in the ends of said bore, the chamber partly dened by the latter wall being larger than the other chamber in all positions of the piston in the bore, a first conduit connecting said ports outside of said body, a second conduit connecting the ends of said bore, a valve connecting the first conduit with the second conduit, and restriction means in valve body and carried by the piston to retard the flow of fluid pressure into the smaller chamber during iiuid pressure surges in the first conduit.

5. A valve comprising a body having an inlet port, an outlet port and a piston bore between said ports having a recess in one end wall, a hollow, open-ended piston movable endwise in said bore and having a passage therethrough to connect said ports partly defined by longitudinally spaced transverse walls in the piston and openings in opposed walls of the piston between said transverse walls, one of said walls being adjacent to one end of the piston and the other wall being remote from the other end of the piston, said walls partly deiining chambers in the ends of said bore, the chamber partly defined by the latter wall being 'larger than the other chamber in all positions of the piston in the bore,

a 'rst conduit connecting said ports outside of said body, a second conduit connecting the ends of said bore, a valve connecting the first conduit with the second conduit, and means at one end of the piston opposing said bore end wall recess cooperating with the second conduit for restricting flow of iiuid pressure into the smaller chamber, said means comprising a plug integrally formed with and extending from the piston to t into said recess..

6. A valve comprising a body having an inlet port, an outlet port and a piston bore between` said ports, a hollow, open-ended piston movable endwise in said bore and having a passage therethrough to connect said ports partly defined by longitudinally spaced transverse walls in the piston and openings in opposed walls of the piston between said transverse walls, one of said walls being adjacent to one end of the piston and the other wall being remote from the other end of the piston, said walls partly defining chambers in the ends ci said bore, the chamber partly dened by the latter wall being larger than the other chamber in all positions of the piston in the bore, a first conduit connecting said ports outside of said body, a spaced conduit connecting the ends of said bore, a valve connecting the first conduit with the second conduit to control the iiow of uid through said conduit, and means in the second conduit for restricting the flow of fluid pressure into the smaller piston bore chamber, said means comprising a casing having inlet and outlet ports, a chamber in said casing opening to said ports, a second chamber opening to said outlet port and communicating through a restricted passageway with the rst casing chamber, a piston in said rst casing chamber for reciprocating motion to open and close one of said ports, a bellows in the second chamber having an open end surrounding and sealing one end of said passageway from the second casing chamber, and spring means associated with the bellows to resiliently oppose expansion of the bellows and motion of the piston under fluid pressure surges to open said one of said ports.

JOSEPH T. LUSIGNAN, JR.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 244,092 Thayer July 12, 1881 824,425 Johnson June 26, 1906 988,495 Noyes Apr. 4, 1911 1,815,394 Boosey July 21, 1931 2,130,611 Burdick Sept. 20, 1938 2,337,841 Shafer Dec. 28, 1943 2,432,996 Larson Dec. 23, 1947 2,518,871 Craig Aug. l5, 1950 2,585,556 Johnson Feb. 12, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 21,543 Great Britain Nov. 8, 1894 339,086 France of 1904 

